The spying plot of the National Security Agency thickens.
Last week, German weekly Der Spiegel reported that the NSA might have been tapping the cell phone of German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Then we learned that the NSA was probably monitoring the phones of 35 different world leaders.
There's no word yet on which world leaders were being targeted. But we are spoiled for choice, because world leaders love their cell phones.
To commemorate this moment in the history of espionage, here are some world leaders and their cell phones.
1) Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany
It would make sense for the NSA to tap Merkel's cell phone because she's really into her phone.
Like here, where first she was sad and then she was like, oh look a phone.
(Julian Stratenschulte/Getty Images)
She's on it a lot.
(Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Probably as much as you're on your phone.
(Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
"Sorry, service terrible … in Afghanistan."
(Steffen Kugler/Bundesregierung-Pool via Getty Images)
Texting the person sitting next to her. Obviously.
(John MacDougall/Getty Images)
"Can't talk … at a thing."
(Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)
Here she is with Nicolas Sarkozy, back when he was still president of France. "Hey Nicky, who you on the phone with?"
(Jesco Denzel/Bundesregierung-Pool via Getty Images)
"NSA. Say hello."
(Jesco Denzel/Bundesregierung-Pool via Getty Images)
"Hey."
(Jesco Denzel/Bundesregierung-Pool via Getty Images)
Angela Merkel is one of the most phone-yolked world leaders out there. The NSA is going to take forever to go through her data. But there are other world leaders to spy on, too.
2) Hamid Karzai, President of Afghanistan
He looks like he's on to you, NSA.
(Shah Marai/Getty Images)
3) Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel
All smiles from Bibi.
(Jim Hollander/Getty Images)
4) Nicholas Maduro, President of Venezuela
(Thomas Coex/Getty Images)
5) Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan
(Getty Images)
6) Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar
Snapping pics of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
(Prakash Singh/Getty Images)
#nofilter
(Prakash Singh/Getty Images)
7) Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India
Indian officials claim that Prime Minister Singh doesn't have a cell phone or personal e-mail address. Totally safe from eavesdropping, right? Hmm.
(Prakash Singh/Getty Images)
9) Pranab Mukherjee, President of India
India's Prez, chatting it up.
(Indranil Mukherjee/Getty Images)
10) Kim Jong-un, Supreme Leader of North Korea
Using an iPhone 5s.
(Getty Images)
11) Francois Hollande, President of France
(Patrice Coppee/Getty Images)
12) Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister of Pakistan
For drone-related inquiries.
(Aamir Qureshi/Getty Images)
13) Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, former Prime Minister of Russia, former President of Russia, former Prime Minister of Russia.
If he's not one of the 35, you know the NSA wants him to be.
(Alexey Druzhinin/GettyImages)
Every day, reporters and producers at The World are hard at work bringing you human-centered news from across the globe. But we can’t do it without you. We need your support to ensure we can continue this work for another year.
Make a gift today, and you’ll help us unlock a matching gift of $67,000!